One of the major experiments in earth science at the present time is
about to begin: the World Climate Research Program (WCRP). The
objectives of WCRP are to determine the extent to which climate change
can be predicted, and the extent to which human activities (such as
increasing the level of CO ) can influence our climate. 2 To understand
and possibly to predict climate change, one needs a good understanding
of the dynamics of the ocean, the atmosphere, and the processes by which
they are coupled. Two major programs are being developed within WCRP:
TOGA (Tropical Oceans, Global Atmosphere) and WOCE (World Ocean
CirculatIon Experiment). The success of these programs will depend on
many things, not least of which is the existence of a pool of active
young researchers. This NATO Advanced Study Institute brought together
students and young scientists from 13 countries, most of them from
Europe and North America. The objective was to provide them with a
background in the perceived state of knowledge of atmosphere and ocean
dynamics, and to mediate a flavour of the problems presently concerning
scientists active in climate related dynamics. In the past, the two
disciplines of oceanography and meteorology have largely been carried
out separately. But for climate research both disciplines must interact
strongly, and another ob jecti ve of this school was to bring together
both oceanographers and meteorologists. To promote an integrated
approach, the lecture presentations were divided into two formats.
